1 John 2:3-11

1 John 2:3-11

[3] And  hereby  we do know  that  we know  him,  if  we keep  his  commandments.  [4] He that saith,  I know  him,  and  keepeth  not  his  commandments,  a liar,  and  the truth  not  in  [5] But  whoso  keepeth  his  word,  in  verily  the love  of God  perfected:  hereby  know we  that  in  him.  [6] He that saith  he abideth  in  him  ought  himself  also  so  to walk,  even as  he  walked.  [7] I write  no  new  commandment  but  an old  commandment  which  ye had  from  the beginning.  The old  commandment  the word  which  ye have heard  from  the beginning.  [8] Again,  a new  commandment  I write  which thing  true  in  him  and  in  because  the darkness  is past,  and  the true  light  now  shineth.  [9] He that saith  in  the light,  and  hateth  his  brother,  in  darkness  even until  now.  [10] He that loveth  his  brother  abideth  in  the light,  and  none  occasion of stumbling  in  him.  [11] But  he that hateth  his  brother  in  darkness,  and  walketh  in  darkness,  and  knoweth  not  he goeth,  because  that darkness  hath blinded  his  eyes. 

What does 1 John 2:3-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The author is explaining to the members of his church, in answer to developing heretical tendencies, the nature of true Christian belief and practice, and the way in which these interact. To do this he first chooses as his theme and for his exhortation the necessity of "living in the light" ( 1 John 1:5-7). The first (negative) condition required for a genuinely Christlike existence, the writer suggests, is the renunciation of sin ( 1 John 1:8 to 1 John 2:2). The second (positive) condition he now proceeds to discuss: it is obedience, especially to the law of love ( 1 John 2:3-11)." [1]
"Though the immediate effect of the light is to expose sin, its primary purpose is to reveal duty." [2]
From his comments on fellowship with God, John moved to a discussion of knowing God. He did so to enable his readers to appreciate the fundamental importance of knowing God as well as having intimate fellowship with God. These concepts are virtually synonymous. [3] John said similar things about knowing God as he had said about having fellowship with God. Increased fellowship with God and increased knowledge of God are inseparable. Fellowship with God should always lead to more perfect knowledge of God; this should be its result.
"Fellowship" (Gr. koinonia) is the less common term occurring only four times in1John: 1 John 1:3 (twice), 6 , 7. "Know" is more common. Ginosko (to know experientially) appears24times: 1 John 2:3-5; 1 John 2:13 (twice), 14 , 18 , 29; 1 John 3:1 (twice), 6 , 16 , 19 , 20 , 24; 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:6 (twice), 7 , 8 , 13 , 16; 1 John 5:2; 1 John 5:20. Oida (intellectual knowledge) appears15 times: 1 John 2:11; 1 John 2:20-21 (twice), 29; 1 John 3:2; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 3:14-15; 1 John 5:13; 1 John 5:15 (twice), 18 , 19 , 20. The noun ginosis (experiential knowledge) is absent from this epistle.
"Again the false claims to knowledge by the opponents are stated first, this time introduced by the clause "he who says" (cf. 1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:6; 1 John 2:9). Each of these claims is again denied and the evidence or "tests" of the true knowledge of God is set forth: obeying his commands ( 1 John 2:5), walking in his likeness ( 1 John 2:6), and loving one"s brother ( 1 John 2:10)." [4]